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office had come to the funeral home en masse. Her closest friends had been at the funeral, had phoned and stopped at the house these past few weeks.
    Today they all seemed to understand that she wanted to get back to a semblance of normality. "Good to have you back." A quick hug. Then the welcome "Sarah, let me know when you have a minute..."
    Lunch was a cheese on rye and black coffee from the courthouse cafeteria. By three o'clock Sarah had the satisfying feeling that she'd made a dent in responding to the urgent messages from plaintiffs, witnesses and attorneys.
    At four o'clock, unable to wait any longer, she called Laurie's room at college. The phone was picked up immediately. "Hello."
    "Laurie, it's me. How's it going?"
    "So-so. I went to three classes, then cut the last one. I just felt so tired."
    "No wonder. You haven't had a decent night's sleep. What are you doing tonight?"
    "Going to bed. Got to clear out my brain."
    "Okay. I'm going to work late. Be home around eight. Why don't I give you a call?"
    "I'd like that."
    Sarah stayed at the office until seven-fifteen, stopped at a diner and bought a hamburger to go. At eight-thirty she phoned Laurie.
    The ringing at the other end continued. Maybe she's showering, maybe she's had some kind of reaction. Sarah held the receiver as the staccato sound buzzed and buzzed in her ear. Finally an impatient voice answered. "Laurie Kenyon's line."
    "Is Laurie there?"
    "No, and please, if the phone isn't answered in five or six rings, give me a break. I'm right across the hall and I've got a test to prepare for."
    "I'm sorry. It's just that Laurie was planning to go to bed early."
    "Well, she changed her plans. She went out a few minutes ago."
    "Did she seem to be all right? I'm her sister and I'm a bit concerned."
    "Oh, I didn't realize. I'm so sorry about what happened to your mother and father. I think Laurie was okay. She was all dressed up, like for a date."
    Sarah called again at ten, at eleven, at twelve, at one. The last time, a sleepy Laurie answered. "I'm fine, Sarah. I went to bed right after dinner and have been asleep since then."
    "Laurie, I rang so long the girl across the hall came over and picked up your phone. She told me you went out."
    "Sarah, she's wrong. I swear to God I was right here." Laurie sounded frightened. "Why would I lie?"
    I don't know, Sarah thought.
    "Well, as long as you're okay. Get back to sleep," she said and replaced the receiver slowly.

    Chapter 16
    DR. CARPENTER could sense the difference in Laurie's posture as she leaned back in the roomy leather chair. He did not suggest that she lie on the couch. The last thing he wanted was to have her lose this tentative trust in him that he sensed she was developing. He asked her how the week at college had been.
    "Okay, I guess. People were awfully nice to me. I have so much catching up to do that I'm burning the midnight oil." She hesitated then stopped.
    Carpenter waited then said mildly, "What is it, Laurie?"
    "Last night when I got home, Sarah asked me if I'd heard from Gregg Bennett."
    "Gregg Bennett?"
    "I used to go out with him. My mother and father and Sarah liked him a lot."
    "Do you like him?"
    "I did, until..."
    Again he waited.
    Her eyes widened. "He wouldn't let go of me."
    "You mean he was forcing himself on you?"
    "No. He kissed me. And that was all right. I liked it. But then he pressed my arms with his hands."
    "And that frightened you."
    "I knew what was going to happen."
    "What was going to happen?"
    She was looking off into the distance. "We don't want to talk about that."
    For ten minutes she was silent, then said sadly, "I could tell that Sarah didn't believe I hadn't been out the other night. She was worried."
    Sarah had called him about that. "Maybe you were out," Dr. Carpenter suggested. "It would be good for you to be with friends."
    "No. I don't care about dating now. I'm too busy."
    "Any dreams?"
    "The knife dream."
    Two weeks ago she had become hysterical when she was